We Need To Talk About Social Mobility

Is your organisation interested in making a social impact while advancing diversity and inclusion within its workforce?

Then join us for a conversation about Social Mobility!

A skilled, talented and diverse workforce is essential to the success of individual businesses and the economy as a whole. However, at this critical time for the future of our country, social mobility is stagnant and the better off are 80 per cent more likely to make it into professional jobs than those from working class backgrounds.

At the same time services that support young people have been heavily cut and 1 in 5 young people believe their lives will never amount to anything, no matter how hard they try.

Gaps between the most affluent and the less advantaged open up from an early age and continue through education and into the workplace. Qualifications remain a barrier to employment and those with the least skills are also the least likely to get training. Those from working class backgrounds are also less likely to find a willing mentor who can help open doors.

This event is an opportunity for hiring managers and other business decision makers to learn from social mobility thought leaders and to share their own experiences and ideas on accessing talent from less advantaged backgrounds.

Our panel of expert speakers will share their own stories and offer advice on specific initiatives you can implement in your business, from basic concepts to big-picture strategy.

Topics covered:

The power of opportunity – hear from our panellists about their own inspiring social mobility journeys and how access to opportunities and support helped to change their futures.

The big picture – the scale of the challenge is enormous and can’t be solved overnight. Find out what you and your organisation can do to help tackle inequality and improve diversity in the long-term.

What can be done now – the future is important, but so is the here and now! Find out what “low hanging fruit” exists and what you can do today to take action.

Panellists:

Karl Lokko is a former gang leader turned activist, poet, influencer, public speaker and adventurer. Having grown up on a gang-ridden estate in South London, he harnessed his life experiences to become an activist and influencer within the U.K. and globally. The story of his incredible transformation, combined with his unique ability to connect with people on a human level, makes Karl one of the most potent voices in the country, allowing him to bridge the gap between worlds and unite communities.

Saeed was brought up in Bolton and spent much of his teens in and out of care and risking exclusion from school. At age fifteen he became determined to tackle negative perceptions of young people in the media, and pitched the idea of a youth magazine, created by and for young people, to O2. They loved the idea, funded it and supplied a mentor. In 2016 his charity’s outstanding work was recognised through the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and he was appointed as a UK Social Mobility Commissioner in October of 2018. In this role he is responsible for monitoring and promoting progress on Social Mobility, including by challenging employers, universities and schools. He also provides advice to Government ministers on how to improve social mobility in England.

Jacqueline is from Brixton and from a young age was confronted by the socio-economic deprivation in her area. She became passionate about politics as a means of tackling inequality and injustice and in 2014 was elected as the first ever female Youth Mayor and Member of Youth Parliament for the London Borough of Lambeth. Her achievements include founding the Brixton Youth Forum, a club that gives power to young people to impact their local communities. Jacqueline campaigns to improve young people’s social mobility and employment prospects by running speed networking events connecting young people with senior barristers, journalists and other professionals. She also advised BBC Radio 1 and Radio 1XTRA on their #1millionhours campaign which aimed to get more young people across Britain volunteering in local charities.

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Grab your free ticket today and join us for two hours of insightful discussions!

This event is recommended for Hiring Managers and business decision makers from any sector.